Best Earbud Headphones

Like the in-ear style, earbuds also slip into your ear canal and are small enough to stow in your purse. Unlike their in-ear cousins, these generally do not have interchangeable earpieces for customizability, which means that comfort and stay-put-ability often suffered on our test. However, they are usually the least expensive on-the-go option. Find more types of headphones here.

JVC Gumy Headphones ($10)

At just $10, the JVC Gumy Headphones topped the earbud category, with sound quality that bested buds costing five times more. While this style wasn't noted for comfort (they're one-size-fits-most, not all), the JVCs earned the highest score of this group from our testers. In eight colors: white, blue, violet, black, green, orange, yellow, red, and pink. iPhone compatible. (jvc.com)

Cyber Acoustics ACM-2200 ($10)

These clung to our testers' ears with their fitted rubber rings  the only set of the earbuds to stay put in our force test. They have in-line volume control, which allows the user to turn the sound up or down without digging for the MP3 player. They also come with a protective carrying case to keep them tangle-free in a gym bag. Note: One consumer tester complained they felt too heavy. iPhone compatible. (cyberacoustics.com)

Cell Point Flamingo Sport ($50)

The priciest pick in this category, the Flamingo Sport earbuds have a new technology: The speaker of the bud sits in front of your ear opening, and the rubber clip catches on your outer ear to hold it in place. The unique fit also allows outside air to flow into the ear, which prevents buildup of pressure and sweat. To boot, these have a nylon cord to prevent tangling and breakage, a carrying pouch, and are iPhone-compatible. In candy apple red, black, and silver. (buy.com)

Philips Bubble ($15)

These neon-colored buds did well staying put in our testers' ears. Our testers noted that the volume was considerably louder than some of the other headphones evaluated. The set comes with a mini cord keeper, which wraps the cord up for easy storage. iPhone compatible. In three colors: pink, blue, and green. (amazon.com)

Memorex EB100 ($25)

The EB100s are average for both sound quality and appearance, but our testers found them reasonably comfortable to wear while exercising; however, one tester complained they kept coming out of her ear. These were also one of two pairs that experienced temporary damage in our drop test (an earpiece popped off but could be reattached). They come with three different-sized sets of memory foam earpieces that conform to your ear canal, have in-line volume control, and are iPhone compatible. (officemax.com)

Maxell Color Buds ($7)

These headphones might be suitable for the easy-paced walker, but we found that while walking briskly they often fell out of testers' ears. Also, testers rated the sound quality below average. Good marks for durability plus the bright colors and the low price might make them a good pick for kids. In eight colors: pink, blue, orange, red, green, purple, gold, and silver. (walmart.com)

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